Socrates and Plato - Writing and Reality

In this lecture, Professor John Bowers explores the philosophical views of Socrates and Plato, two of the most influential thinkers in the Western tradition. He examines how Socrates challenged the conventional wisdom of his time through his method of dialogue and his search for the truth. He also discusses how Plato, Socrates’ student, developed his own theory of reality, knowledge, and morality in his dialogues and his famous allegory of the cave. Bowers explains how Socrates and Plato shaped the literary canon and influenced the development of Western culture and thought.

This lecture is part of the course “The Western Literary Canon in Context” by The Teaching Company. The course covers 36 works of literature from the ancient to the modern era, and examines their historical, cultural, and literary significance.